In March of 2020, members of the New Richmond Exempted Village School District community supported a 9.4-mills property tax levy for operations. The passage of this initiative serves as a great indicator of the value district residents place on schools, learning, and our community’s youth.

Included in the 9.4-mills was an ask for .5-mill that’s earmarked for three key areas (curriculum, safety/security, and technology) that respondents to a 2020 survey identified as “very important.”

With the money this levy will generate, not only will we be able to continue funding our daily school operations, but we will also be able to invest more heavily in our curriculum, safety/security, and technology. This page on our website serves as a reporting out of how the .5-mill monies are being used.

We are thankful to our community for its ongoing support and last year’s passage of the 9.4-mills operating levy.

As promised, .5 mill of the money is being used to address needs in three areas community members identified in a survey as very important - safety/security, curriculum, and technology. 

From the first installment of funds, $113,000, the district was able to make the following safety/security improvements and invest in new, innovative ideas for the betterment of learning/operations:

• Security Cameras - $3,847

• District Wide Badging System - $29,088

• Video/Audio for Busses - $44,000

• Extended Recording Time on all DVRs - $29,565

• Teacher Mini Grants - $6,500

Without the levy monies, New Richmond would not have been able to complete these important safety/security measures. The mini grants for innovation would have been nearly impossible to start. 

Thanks to another source of funds provided as a result of the COVID pandemic, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ESSER), we’ve been able to improve and update technology for our students and staff including replacing old, outdated Chromebooks and buying additional Chromebooks. The half-mill monies from the next installment of the levy funds will be used to target curriculum needs that were previously financially out of reach for New Richmond Schools.

“We are grateful to our community members who, during uncertain times, approved the operating levy in 2020,” Superintendent Tracey Miller said. “We’ve made significant strides in improving the safety and security of our buildings. Through the installation of card readers in buildings, we have a much better handle of who is in our buildings.

“We will also begin the important process of doing annual reviews of the district curriculum on a five-year cycle. This annual analysis and review will help to make certain the district’s curriculum is in sync with the state standards and is current and relevant for the needs of 21st Century teaching and learning.”

- April 29, 2021